Electrical socket



1M. ALDEN ELECTRICAL SOCKET Filed Dec. 18, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR MiZZonAZZen Sept. 8, 1942. M.-ALDEN ELECTRICAL socxm Filed Dec. 18, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet; 2

nlllllli IINVENTOR AZaZen/ Patented Sept. 8, 1942 UNlTED STATES PATENT orncr:

Application December 1 Claim. (c1.

' The present invention relates to sockets and more particularly to sockets for the reception of the bases of radio tubes or for the reception of plugs used for the connection of radio or other circuits to devices equipped with such sockets.

One object of my invention is to provide a compact reliable and simple socket, having durable contacts which may be made cheaply and'yet will be eflicient, will have extremely low surface leakage losses and can readily be attached to the chassis of a radio receiver.

Another object of my invention is to provide a socket of the so-called octal type wherein the only openings extending completely from the upper to the lower surface thereof shall be the comparatively small sized openings into which the prongs of a radio tube or plug enter in order to make contact with female members enclosed within such openings, thus avoiding the possibility, especially in radio sets, of dirt entering the interior of the set through such comparatively large central openings as commonly exist in the types of so-called octal sockets now customarily employed.

A still further object of one form of my invention is to close the lower portion of the contact members in such fashion as virtually to seal the lower portion of the prong passages in which they lie, in order that solder, flux or dirt may not accidentally enter such passages when conductors are soldered to the externally projecting portions of these members.

Another purpose of one form of the present invention is to provide in such sockets a contact member having a shield which will deflect solder from accidentally reaching portions of the contact or the [prong passages where it is not desirable or where it might interfere with. among entering into proper engagement with the 'con-' tact.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide a' socket having a relatively long path over which surface leakage may occur between adjacent contact members, especially upon the bottom of the socket, where residues of soldering flux may tend to retain or to collect moisture and thus may allow a ready leakage of current to occur between such contact members.

' Yet another object of the present invention is to furnish a socket having a similarly relatively'long leakage path between the upper portions of the contact members lying within the body of such socket.

Another purpose of my invention is to provide in a socket of the character described, contact making members which shall not be in contact with any solid. insulating material for a substantial portion of their length near the upper ends of the contacts, thereby still further reducing the possible occurrenceof undue surface leakage beble of causing current leakage, such as the rawedges of laminated insulation of the phenolic condensation type which in commonly used types of sockets is often employed to hold such contact members in place, and which insulating material easily absorbs or-adsorbs moisture to a sufiicient degree so as to permit a considerable degree of current leakage over' such edges between adjacent contact members.

My invention has the further purpose of pro-'- viding a type of socket formed of molded insulating-material wherein the molded material is of substantially uniform cross-sectional area,

without any portions thereof being of greater thickness than the remaining portions, thus allowing a uniform curing of the molded structure by heat or otherwise. Such construction also increases the strength of the structure, due to the greater area of surface presented, since molded w bodies are known to be stronger at or near their surfaces than in the interior portions thereof. Another object of my invention is to provide a socket wherein the insulating material shall present surfaces which have been cured to a relatively smooth finish by contact with the surfaces of the mold, thereby greatly diminishing the absorption or adsorption of moisture by such surfaces and consequent current, leakage therethrough or thereover, in comparison with such moisture retention by surfaces which are formed by cutting or otherwise caused to be roughened, as usually is true in the case of the laminated type of socket. One other purpose of this invention is to provide in a socket ofthe character described, contact retaining means which shall allow the easy insertion of female contact members into the body of the socket and yet at the same time shall firmly grip such members when they have once been inserted therein, so that they will not easily become dislodged while conductors or other parts are being welded or soldered thereto,

or while a plug is engaging or disengaging the socket.

Another purpose of the instant invention is to provide a socket wherein the contact members shall have a certain degree of looseness or float at their upper portions, so that they may readily adapt themselves to the entrance of prongs which are not exactly 'positioned relative thereto, and also to provide contact members which shall not be permanently distorted by the entrance thereinto of prongs which may be bent,

' tallic shielding member, employed for this purpose, to one or more contact members of the socket, or to any other convenient portion of a structure in or on which" it may be mounted, such as a metal base or panel, and which may be at a ground potential or which may be so made to be by such connection.

Another object of my invention is to provide substantially complete electrostatic shielding around the central boss of a tube placed in the socket, especially in the case of a loktal type tube.

Still a further purpose of this invention is to provide a socket which can easily be positioned in place upon a metal panel without the use of tools and be permanently fastened-thereto by a riveting or eyeleting operation.

Another object is to provide in a socket of the type using a central locating aperture, such as the type usually known as an octal socket, a locating aperture which shall have its edge formed of stronger and better.wear-resisting material than the insulation which comprises the body of the socket, thus reducing the possibility of the insertion therein of a tube or plug with its prongs improperly located to any great extent.

Still further, this mounting strip may be made of metal and may then serve to conduct heat Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one type of contact which may be used with my invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional detail of a socket showing an alternative form of contact which may be employed with my invention.

Fig. 8 is a bottom view of part of a socket showing seated in place another form of contact which may be employed therewith.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of a completely assembled socket, showing a method of grounding the shielding metal cap of my intion, of a metal cap with integrally formed projecting eyelets.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of an alternative type of contact having a solder trap.

In Fig. 1 there is shown themetal shielding cap 10, provided with suitable apertures ll-H 5 for fastening it to the mounting support. Of

away from the body proper into the mass of the 7 body upon which the socket may be mounted, an

advantage especially important with molded materials of the so-called Polystyrene type.

My invention also allows conductors to be attached to the contact members before their insertion into the socket body, thus affording econ-.

used to hold a condenser, a resistor, or the like,

or whichcan hold the socket itself to a mounting panel.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in order better to illustrate my invention:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one form of socket embodying my invention. 1

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same structure.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly insection on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view, with the metal cap. and its underlying washer removed, so that the interior formation of the socket body is visible.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the washer used in this socket.

course any other suitable means of fastening it to the support may be employed in lieu of these holes. In this cap are also provided a group of other apertures l2-l2, which'iurnish entrances for the respective prongs of a plug or tube base into the socket body. Lying immediately beneath the cap it) is a washer I 3 of insulating material, shown in detail in Fig. 5. In this washer are located other apertures 14, each lying beneath a corresponding aperture l2, these apertures M i being respectively of slightly smaller diameter than the apertures I 2, so that the prongs which have started to enter these smaller apertures will no longer be in contact with the metal cap l0, thereby avoiding accidental mutual interconnection of the prongs, which might lead to the occurrence of undesired short-circuits. Locating aperture I 5, with key aperture I6, is preferably made at least as large in washer l3 as it is in cap l0, so that an entering guide pin will make contact with the metal cap I0, which is of more wear resisting than the softer insulating material of which the washer I3 is formed.

Referring now additionally to Figs. 2 and 3, the socket body I! is provided with a'central chamber l8, preferably closed at the bottom, for the reception therein of the guide pin of the plug. The body is formed with integrally molded legs l9, each one of which becomes the nidus for housing a single contact and for the closure therein of the individual circuit derived from a single prong only of an entrant plug. It can be seen that the leakage path from, any contact member 20, emerging from the rear of any individual passageway 2|, to an adjacent contact, will be a very lengthy one, thus serving to minimize leakage between the rear portions of.such contacts, which, due to the soldering of wires thereto, often becomes contaminated with solder, soldering flux, and the dirt which these latter materials tend to retain thereupon. The contacts are retained in place within the individual legs is, by the action of relatively small bulges or ridges 22, which are shown in greater detail in Fig. 6.

In Fig. 4 there is illustrated the interior formation of the upper portions of the socket body IT. A number of septaloid partitions 23 extend radially from the exterior peripheral surface 24 of the central chamber l8, to the inner surface of the outer wall of the body proper, thus creating a series of discrete compartments, 25, each lying at its lower portion within one of the legs IQ of the socket. The middle portions of each compartment may be shaped so as to have a cross section somewhat like a figure 8, of which one lobe has been flattened out. The bottom of the and the upper portion which lies within the body oi the socket may be of a shape to conform to the general contour of the chamber within which it lies, 1. e., somewhat like a figure 8. To secure this form, two partial cylinders lie side by side, with a common slit-like opening between them, one cylinder being provided with another slit in the wall opposite this common slit. Retaining bulges 22 are located just below the outer edge of holes 2i, when the.contact has been inserted into place, and these bulges serve to retain the contact in position. In this fashion the upper end 01' the contact may be located considerably below the washer l3, and out of contact therewith. Accordingly the leakage path between adjacent contacts, from the-upper end of one of the upper end of another is made much longer than if the washer were relied upon for retention of the contacts within. the body of the socket.

In Fig. '7 I have shown an alternative form of contact and a form of socket body closedat the bottom except for narrow slits 21'. The contact is held within the socket body by means other than exterior bulges upon the contact member.

almost complete closure of the posterior open-. ings of the contact chambers also serves to prevent or hinder the entrance of surplus solder or flux, along the surface of the soldering tabs and into the chambers themselves, which enof the contact members 2|].- If the cap I0 is grounded by other means, then this strip 33 will serve to ground the circuit of the plug .or tube which enters the particular contact member to which strip 33 may be connected. Conversely, if a grounded wire is fastened to the contact tab of this particular contact member, then strip 33 will serve to afford a ground for the shielding metal cap I0. Such strip may be formed so as to project beyond the cap [0, and afford a convenient tab for the connection thereto of other members, such as condensers, resistors, etc. which it is desired to ground.

In Fig. 10, the cap l0 has an integrally formed projecting 'hollow member 40- to receive the central boss of a tube or plug, especially the boss of a loktal type tube. Slot 4| receives the guide pin or ridge of the tube base and slits 42 give elasticity, while depressions such as shown at 43 may serve to snap into the groove at the end of the boss, so as to retain the tube securely in the socket. This member 40 acts as an electrostatic shield and if still greater shielding effect is required slot 4| may be extruded so as to be slit.

Fig. 11 shows the strip 33, similar to that shown in Fig. 9, but here shown as bent around a condenser 44, having connection terminals 45, 45. Alternately, one or more strips such as 33 may be bent so as to hold the socket itself to the mounting panel, or may be so bent as to hold resistors or other components of a radio receiver in place next to thesocket.

Fig. 12 shows cap II] as provided with integral extruded hollow eyelets '46, 46. These eyelets allow the socket to be placed in position in an In this form, the upper, orcontact-making portrance would make possible undesired leakage path between various contacts of the structure.

Fig. 8 displays another form of contact which accomplishes the bottom closure of the contact holding chambers which may have openings 2|,

- as shown in Fig. 2, by the provision along the contact body of two tabs 30-30 which are bent inwardly as shown, thus tendingto close up the entrance to the contact chamber at its posterior portion. The wire-connecting portion of this contact may optionally be provided with holes 3|, as shown in the drawings. for the insertion therein 0! a wire or wires which are to bev connected to the contact member.

Fig. 9 shows a form of socket embodying my invention, wherein a metal strip 33 is soldered or assembly without the need of separate rivets or eyelets. A number of sockets thus assembled may have the ends of eyelets. 46 headed over in a single operation, thus reducing assemblycosts. Metal ring 41 may also be embossed so as to aid in positioning and holding this type of socketcap in the assembly position upon the panel before heading over the eyelets.

. Fig. 13 shows an alternative type of contact which may be used in this s'ocket. Soldering terminal 48 has holes 49 to receive a wire therein. Body 50 has a contact receiving portion 5| formed as a split cylinder, similarly to the contact shown in Fig. 6. At 52 is indicated a solder shield in the form of a substantially complete semi-circular member. When soldering takes place, any excess solder will be deflected by this shield and prevented from entering the portion of the contact which lies within the socket body.

I claim:

A socket comprising a cylindrical molded body having a number of pockets extending parallel with the axis with partitions between-the pockets, a contact mounted in each pocket and having a wiring terminal projecting from the rear, an insulating ring mounted in theiront of the body and having a hole in alinement with each of the contacts and a supporting metal shielding cap havingparts embracing the 'edge of the rim of the body and openings larger in diameter than and registering with the openings in the insulating ring, the metal around the openings in the cap contacting the insulating material around its openings.

MILTON ALDEN.

welded from an edge of the metal cap ill, to one 

